Shaolin

Well, here we are half-way through the season. My take on the season thus far:

Organization:

I thought the Lakers would be dead in the water this year in so far as trades go; that what we had to trade, no one would want. But to my surprise, we cut loose some dead weight with Cook and Evans (tho I like them both, they were dead weight) and picked up a promising player with Ariza. Then, they turned around and got rid of Kwame (again, best wishes) and got a quality big man in Gasol. Color me shocked but approving. B+

Team Overall Performance:

Better than expected. One of the infuriating habits of the last few years were the losses to teams that should've been easy victories. The team wouldn't show up some nights, and lesser teams would outplay/outhustle them. Drove me up the wall. This year, they're doing a much better job of beating the teams they're supposed to. They just went 7-2 on a historically long road trip, and was within a basket or two of going 9-0. Thats damned impressive. B+

Individual performances:

Kobe: ....has been Kobe. Arrogant, infuriating, selfish and spectacular. Remains the player most likely to make your jaw drop any given night. A

Bynum: Was coming along way ahead of expectations before his injury. His inside presence makes everyone else's job that much easier. B

Odom: ....is the player he's always been. Solid, dependable, but not going to be a next-level superstar. Will not be Pippen to Kobe's Jordan. Should not take the last shot of the game. But liable to get you a double double on a regular basis. Will thrive as 3rd or 4th option. C+

Sasha: So far, not bad. Remains to be seen whether he's just on a good streak or if this is a long term growth pattern. C+

Vlad: See the comments for Sasha. C+

Farmar: Coming along nicely, is more benefit than liability. B-

Fisher: Veteran leadership cannot be overrated. Brings a knowledge of the system along with maturity, experience and a still solid jumper. Undeniable asset to the team. B

Turiaf: Classic example of a guy you'd want on your bench. Great for team energy, enthusiastic about playing, and in limited minutes will bust his butt for the cause. Was inclined to give him a C+ but a guy who comes back from HEART SURGERY and plays as though there is no tomorrow...and God knows there isn't... extra credits himself to a B-

Ariza: promising but too soon to tell. INC

Gasol: Same grade as Ariza. Has potential. INC

Mbenga: INC

Mihm: You know how I want to grade this stiff useless slug. But to be fair he gets an INC

Walton: I'm struggling to find some positive part of his game thus far. But for the sake of compassion, I'll give him a C- because he has been thus far below average. Unless he makes a second half turnaround then his grade will fall even further.

DaRizzle

While you are entitled to your opinions you seemed to base your "organization" grade off of trades...If that is the case then anything less than A+ is unacceptable. Replaced Squish with Fish and Butterfinger Brown for POW! Mitch also refused to send Odom AND Bynum for Kidd...You cant do any better than that

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CDRacingZX6R

Got to agree.. Anytime in one off season you can get rid of Smush Parker, Brian Cook, and Kwame Brown.. And in return get Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher and Trevor.... Your having a A+ off season.

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afobisme

organization and team performance should be a lot higher.

kobe should get an a- to me, and sasha deserves more than a c+. farmar deserves a b. fisher deserves a b+.

Eternal

Bynum IMO should definitely have an A or A+. He's been great for us this year.

Shaolin

Opinions noted. As I said though, this is a midterm grade, final grades may be higher depending on final performance. No extra credit for losing Smush, as that brother had to go.

Agreed, though I see it more like the organization didn't do something dumb (which you aren't supposed to do anyway) than as a proactive step.

I counted the two losses to Boston, and the loss to detroit, against them. You gotta beat the best teams to get the best grades, IMO.

I'll give you Fish, though its sorta splitting hairs. Sasha has been better than average but not so much to warrant a higher grade.

CDRacingZX6R

Agree.. I think on that road trip without Pau taking up some of the slack in Bynums absence, the road trip ratio wouldn't have been as pleasant.

Kobe said Bynum was the player he prayed for a reason.

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The One

My Grades

Organization: A+

Team Overall Performance: A+

Individual performances:

Kobe: A-

Bynum: A+

Odom: C

Sasha: A-

Vlad: C

Farmar: A+

Fisher: B+

Turiaf: B-

Walton: F-

Ariza: INC

Gasol: INC

Mbenga: D+ (Slightly Higher grade than kwame)

Mihm: F- (been injured to long to get a pass)

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CDRacingZX6R

Wow... I think for the first time ever, I agree with all of The Ones assessments...

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The One

I knew some day you'd came to my side.... It's a shame you were the last one to do so..

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Drewbs

I'd give Bynum an A-, he can't be effective when hes injured.

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afobisme

here's my take

Organization:

A+

you can't do any better than the trades we made. we also probably made the right draft pick.

Team Overall Performance:
A-

We're playing well, and unlike last year, we are beating the teams we are supposed to. However, our defense is still lacking and we don't have the best record against the better teams in the league.

Individual performances:

Kobe: The first half of the season, i don't think he played that well. But his shot selection has been better lately, and he's been hitting more shots. A-

Bynum: He's made big strides. If his defense were even better than it already is, and he developed more post moves, I would bump him up a notch. A

Odom: He'll get you a double double but don't expect much else. B-

Sasha: He's been consistent this year, he deserves some credit. B

Vlad: Has had good flashes, but also bad flashes. Playing good ball as of late. B-

Farmar: Possibly the best 2nd string guard in the league. he's averaging 9.2 points in limited (20.8) minutes per game. that's pretty good. His shot is pretty respectable and he can finish in the lane. Big guards like Chauncey can bully him around though. B+

Fisher: Veteran leadership, clutch shots, good spacing. He's having a career year in field goal %. B+

Turiaf: Whenever given the minutes, her performs up to task. Very dependable guy. B+

Walton: Um, he sucks. There is no doubting it. He brings nothing to the team (that it doesn't already have). His defense is lacking. His passing is overrated. He can't shoot. He just sucks. D[/quote]

CubanLaker

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